[ctdonath]

A strong accusation with little to base it on.

MacBook Air? Bottom end refurbished model costs $900. That's a dollar a day for 2.5 years; in NY you can recycle soda cans for $0.05/each, so 20 found cans a day keeps her tolerably up to date. There's enough free wifi around to manage connectivity.

Extreme frugality is viable if you put your mind to it. Our advertising-driven culture is guilty of making most think it isn't.

[nthj]

I've picked up used MacBooks (for relatives etc, I hate Windows tech support) for as little as $300. Still running years later. They couldn't be happier.

[thescurvy]

I concur. I'm 25, and the most money I've ever made in a year is less than $6,000. I've still managed to travel the country and live with not much strife. Once you're comfortable with completely disregarding all the bullshit that people in America think they need to be comfortable you're free to do whatever you want. I have no intention of attempting to change this situation because I'm genuinely happy with it.

EDIT:I'm also not on any form of welfare or food stamps or the like. I live entirely without state assistance, happily.

[frozenport]

Yes, but why is it good? I wouldn't call these people success stories.

[kome]

>> I wouldn't call these people success stories.

https://static.pinboard.in/xoxo_talk_thoreau.htm

> Thoreau said about his two years at Walden:

> I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours

> Thoreau wrote this never having tasted any of traditional forms of success. He was thinking of a different, more fundamental kind of success, one that I wish for myself, and earnestly wish for all of you.

[jamesaguilar]

The problem here is that you are mistaking your preferences for universal preferences. I wouldn't want to live like this either, and probably most wouldn't. But bully on these people for doing so, if they want to.

[ctdonath]

You underestimate the number of people who view such living as a laudable goal. Frugal living is quite satisfying. Read Walden for starters, then something like Five Acres and Independence, or Foxfire. It's a major paradigm shift.